Book Signing in Beaverdale

 

 

The lovely fall weather served as a backdrop to the Beaverdale Fall Fest.  Alice, the proprietor of Beaverdale Books, hosted a book signing by local authors on Saturday September 19th.  Carol Bodensteiner, “Growing Up Country”, Michael Wellman “Far From Trees”, Ryan Sloth “Sammy Sloth”and Lauren Rice “Iowa Explorer’s Guide” shared a table with Sheryl Van Weelden “Under the Tea Leaves”.  We enjoyed the lovely fall weather, networking with each other about publishing and marketing our books, and signing purchases for the customers.  It was a delightful couple of hours.  Thank you, Alice.

Miss Spenser's Special Teas in New Virginia, Iowa

Miss Spenser's Special-Teas  is a quaint tearoom nestled on a back road in the scenic hills of Southern Iowa, just a short drive from the urban lights of West Des Moines. Experience a bit of country at your next tea outing in our cozy farmhouse, decorated in warm colors, all done up in up in a Country-Victorian style decor. Come visit us soon where we offer the ambience of being on Grandma's farm and where you will find deliciously home-made tea fare and a gourmet pot of hot tea awaiting you!  Call today to reserve your ticket for one of our exciting upcoming themed tea events or book a Special Occasion Tea Outing for you and friends.

                                                    phone:  641-342-1547

Lady Donna & Miss Spenser Hardin

641-342-1547

3220 Wyoming Street

New Virginia, IA 50210

or email:

cityslickers@hughes.net

photo by cafemama, powered byflickr

UTTL Book Discussion in Crestmore, Iowa

 

Rays of sunshine warmed us as we followed the map quest directions to the Crestmoor Golf and Country Club.  After a tasty luncheon of Caesar salad, cheesy soup, mini muffins and cheesecake drizzled with cherries; we shared our mother-daughter story and the three-year journey involved in co-authoring under the tea leaves.  The Ladies Literary Guild of Creston, Iowa, hosted the afternoon, which was peppered with laughter, amazement and curiosity.

No need to mention the surprise trip to Missouri on our return trip to Des Moines or the hasty calls to husbands to explain our upcoming late arrival! A pause for a quick turn around and then laughter and mother-daughter conversation resumed.

Sheryl's Book Presentation At Sully Community Church April 4, 2009

Photo: Sheryl talking with her 5th grade teacher, Darlene Gates.  Darlene's compassionate care and intellectual challenge in the classroom motivated Sheryl to become a lifetime educator.

Sheryl gave the keynote speech at the Ladies Spring Tea.  Over one hundred women were in attendance:  mothers, daughters and grandmothers.   After a delicious luncheon with the tea , Sheryl shared her faith journey and how Sherry and she wrote Under the Tea Leaves. By sharing her many memories  sipping tea and tea parties with those she loves ages 6- 91, she encouraged all the women to take time to share with those they love. 

"Beautiful thoughts skillfully written"

"Beautiful thoughts skillfully written by both of you. Tell Sherry for me how much I appreciate her poetic prose. Both of you have a gift for describing detail in a way that makes me feel as though I am there, in that tearoom with you."

Author of Crying in the Wilderness-A Voice for "America's Children"  Tomaline Sharpe Lenox

Book presentation in December at Meredith Drive Reformed Church

 

This is Sheryl and Sherry providing a presentation to seniors at Sheryl's church Meredith Drive Reformed in Des Moines, Iowa. It was a cold December day but there were a good number of people gathered for lunch and discussion. Sheryl shares tea memories and invites others to do the same.

Book Group Discussion at Kathy's

Kathy Winter put out the welcome mat for us to visit with some of her friends and talk about themes from our book. Thanks so much Kathy! Now that we've explored visiting with events in some of the tearooms and bookstores, it seems like maybe trying to connect with people in intimate book group settings might work well.

We welcome invites to join book groups to share and reflect on topics from UTTL. While we continue to talk about the ambiance of hot tea as a backdrop for good conversation, it is the relationship discussion that seems most compelling to consider.

One idea from our discussion at Kathy's expressed is that there are no "rules" to what our friendships/ family look like. Sometimes there is a very deliberate effort to stay connected and other times things are allowed to ebb and flow. The result however is that we do look to feel connected and inspired. There is the family we get and then the one we select for ourselves as we evolve. How do we make time for those who matter to us? 

"It's a great mother/daughter, woman/woman book"

Sheryl,
I just had to email this morning and let you know I am THOROUGHLY enjoying my journey with you and Sherry to the various Tea houses in Iowa.  I am reading about one Tearoom at a time as a part of my devotional.  Yesterday I , ironically, read about Younkers--3 years to the day that  the Tearoom closed.  I am enjoying /anticipating your  perceptions of the various  places viewed through the lenses of the  particular day you visited--and especially the reflections of  your personal growth and the deepening appreciation of the value  of your  relationship.  It's a great mother/daughter, woman/woman book.  It's very personal--thank you for sharing in written word--definitely a gift, both you and Sherry share, each with a unique style. 

Carolyn

May 3, Celebrate our women who support us

May 3, from 11 to 1 Mom and I will be at East Village Books sipping Gong Fu tea that Mike and Rusty are generously providing for an event to talk about and celebrate the women who support us along life's journey. Please come and visit with us and bring those women who make a difference for you while you relax and visit at East Village Books. Mom and I will provide a brief presentation to kick off discussion.

We are requesting donations to help Beacon of Life which is a women's shelter in Des Moines that helps women transition back into a functional and productive lives. Please join us and bring anything on the list as it appears here. We look forward to seeing you!

Download needs_list.doc

Our first interview on podcast Conscious Discussions

Here is an interview we had with Lillian Brummet of the podcast Conscious Discussions today. Her show focuses on topics that have to do with the environment, community involvement, and writing. Take a listen here.